Economic growth at center of Imperial’s State of the City Address
IMPERIAL — This city’s monthly street fair combined a little official business with its pleasures Saturday as Mayor Robert Amparano discussed economic growth and new business developments during the annual State of the City Address.
“As a city, we’ve created a strong foundation for the unprecedented development that is to come,” said Amparano during his address.
The event was held for the second time in conjunction with the city’s annual Tri Tip Cook Off and Market Day event in downtown Imperial. Mayor Pro-tem Darrell Pechtl introduced the mayor, who spoke on the event’s main stage around 7 p.m. to hundreds of local event goers.
“Every now and then we are gifted to find someone on the local level who gets involved in politics not because of themselves, but because they generally want to see their community grow and improve,” Pechtl said of Mayor Amparano.
Pechtl told the local crowd that Amparano began his career in emergency services at only 19 years old and spent his entire adult life helping other people. Today the mayor juggles his duties at the city with his current position as an Emergency Services Coordinator and Underwater Recovery Diver for the Imperial Irrigation District.
“It speaks to the character of a man that is willing to put his life on the line and help people in their darkest hour and we are very fortunate to have him as a part of our city,” Pechtl told local residents.
Once on the center stage, Amparano started the annual address by highlighting the city’s population growth rate from last year. The city saw a more than 5 percent annual growth rate, with the city’s population increasing by about 1,031 persons.
“This places Imperial in the circle of champions as the third fastest-growing city in California for 2018,” he said.
To support the influx of residents, Amparano noted that the city is taking a proactive approach with the addition of new city staff, including a parks superintendent and a code enforcement officer.
Amparano also commended the city’s Department of Community Services for receiving three small grants this year.
The local library was able to add 125 DVDs to its collection through a California State Library Rural AV Grant. It was also able to add 200 books through the California State Library Initiatives Book Project.
Separately the city was able to receive 150 trees through the CAL-FIRE Urban Forestry Grant. The trees will be planted throughout the city, he said.
“In Imperial, we’re always aiming for success,” Amparano told the crowd.
He also noted the importance of continuing efforts to improve the city’s local infrastructure while highlighting some recent city projects that have recently wrapped up.
A traffic signal project at Neckel Road and Highway 86 was among the projects recently completed, at a cost of $801,946.05, he said.
Local sidewalk improvements also were finished for a final cost of $1,395,349, along with Cambria Park, which was completed and equipped for a cost of $327,564, he said.
The city’s newest transit park on Barioni Avenue will soon join the city’s completed projects as it’s scheduled to go online this spring at a cost of $1,849,516.94.
“This facility will be the hub for accessing destinations all around Imperial County and beyond,” Amparano said during his address.
Imperial also saw a new state-of-the-art water filtration system go online in late 2018, which processed as much as 3.8 million gallons per day during peak demand, the mayor added.
As for the city’s wastewater treatment, Amparano said the city is shooting for plant upgrades later this year.
“So what else is new in Imperial? Plenty. Our mission to sustain ongoing growth continues,” Amparano said.
A part of that growth is set to come from new business developments including a medicinal cannabis dispensary coming soon to the business park section of Marshall Road.
Likewise, Tia’s House of Coffee was among the city’s newest businesses, opening at the corner of Imperial Avenue and Sixth Street.
The city also saw more dining options emerge with the long anticipated Mozzarelli Artisan Bistro recently opening at Worthington Square. Nana’s Kitchen has also started serving from their new location on the corner of West Aten Road and LaBrucherie Road, Amparano said.
Additional growth can be seen at the local Lisa Tucker Plaza, which added a new cryotherapy provider and more parking for their businesses.
“Imperial Valley Food Bank’s new headquarters in the Imperial Business Park is taking shape and on target for a grand opening later this year,” Amparano added.
To further aid local businesses, the city welcomed the Imperial Valley Economic Development Corp.’s relocation. The move included the Small Business Development Center and Imperial Regional Alliance to provide tactical assistance for businesses.
“There’s a lot more in the works for 2019 with numerous groundbreakings on the horizon,” Amparano said. The mayor ended his address by recognizing Imperial’s potential for a variety of new business developments given its rapidly growing population and one of the highest household incomes in the county.
“Imperial hits the bullseye with its great neighborhoods, quality schools, safe streets, awesome residents and plentiful opportunity,” Amparano said.